Northampton
Saints 31-
Bath 24
It
was a mild and pleasant afternoon on Saturday as Franklin’s Gardens
saw another sell out with 13,365 packing the stands. But the air was
tinged with genuine sadness.
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| Alex Corbisiero, Luis Ghaut and Tom Wood at the Premiership Final 2014. Photography by RedHatPhoto.com |
In
memory and recognition of Luis Ghaut, the amazing thirteen year old
Upton boy – rugby player and Saints fan – who sadly lost his
battle with cancer this week, Saints players joined in one minute’s
applause as Luis’ inspirational and forever smiling face shone down
at us from the big screen.
So
on to the game and although Saints were missing Courtney Lawes and
Tom Wood, it was a match the Saints’ players would devote to their
hero, Luis Ghaut.
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| One minutes applause to commemorate Luis Ghaut. Photography by RedHatPhoto.com |
Bath
were on a high after last week's assured annihilation of Leicester
Tigers and they were intent on stirring things up, which they
certainly attempted to do in a nail-biting final ten minute
whirlwind.
“I
think we were pretty fortunate in the end that Dylan Hartley got
under that last maul but we played some good rugby...” said
Jim Mallinder.
Fast
out of the gate, it didn't take long for fiery, fizzing and fleet of
foot Ben Foden to make a break early doors, creating options for Kahn
Fotuali'i. With a three man overlap, Saints looked sure to deliver
the ball but Luke Arscott's attempt at an interception prevented it.
Maybe hard to gauge the intent but Tim Wigglesworth awarded a penalty
try and delved into his pocket for a yellow. Arscott reflected in
the sin bin and Stephen Myler converted.
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| Ben Foden making a break Photography by RedHatPhoto.com |
Some
promising drama and all under the ten minute mark.
Bath
then took a bashing in the scrum. With several resets and Alex
Corbisiero's sheer domination, Northampton's second try came in the
corner as Calum Clark caught a long pass to breeze over, only eight
minutes later. Myler converted perfectly.
But Bath bounced back.
Chris
Cook threw down the gauntlet and directed Bath's set piece
brilliantly. This paved the way for the defiant Dave Wilson to
bulldoze through the Saints defence, scoring twenty minutes in,
George Ford confidently converting,14-7.
Bath
were determined to spring back into shape but a lack of discipline in
the scrum saw them penalised again, offering the home side another
slice of satisfaction pie as Myler kicked the points.
Northampton
accelerated off the green light on numerous occasions but they didn't
make life easy for themselves with a handful of lost possibilities.
George Pisi managed to cut through the Bath defence like a knife
through butter as the Gardens roared in excitement, but all to no
avail. Pisi didn't use his support players – George North was
there and waiting - a travesty of a missed opportunity. Off the
second phase, there were options out wide that Saints just weren't
taking. I looked on in frustration as they seemed short sighted in
parts against a well fortified Bath defence.
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| Fleet of foot George North Photography by RedHatPhoto.com |
And
then it came back, the fine form of the destructive Bath pack that
took centre stage against Leicester. They became fresh and
free-flowing and sprung animatedly into action on the attack. Quick
paced, focussed and well drilled. It saw Saints penalised and Ford
kicked true with seven minutes left to play in the first half.
However,
all that effort seemed lost when Bath were penalised for not rolling
away but luckily for the visitors, Myler's kick went marginally wide.
Missed opportunities for Northampton and missed tackles by Bath. How
would the second half unfold?
HT
17-10
Back
out and Northampton looked ready to hit the demolition button.
Determined Fotuali'i fed the forwards with a handful of 'red' balls
into Bath's 22. It was only a matter of time, after countless
phases, before a driving surge put Christian Day in to touch down
with Myler adding the points.
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| The reliable boot of Stephen Myler Photography by RedHatPhoto.com |
It
appeared Northampton had finally found their rhythm. Catching the
Bath defence off guard, a break by Luther Burrell four minutes later
and a smooth offload to North enabled George Pisi to beat several
tacklers to cross the whitewash. Myler superbly converted from the
touch line.
But
on the attack, Bath were still dangerous - and a sleeping Saints
defence awoke to find Olly Woodburn scoring! Ford slotted the
conversion with ease and there was still a quarter of the game left
to play.
This was more like it!
You
wouldn't have known Bath were missing the likes of Carl Fearns,
Francois Louw and Matt Garvey as they definitely did their damnedest
to pack a punch. Their fierce and admirable ability was highlighted
when a rolling maul off a 5 metre line out, saw Nick Auterac burrow
over. Bath weren't here to take hostages. Ford again reliably
converted and it was toe to toe with ten minutes to play ...
tenterhooks and tense! 31-24
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| Scrum down Photography by RedHatPhoto.com |
It
was really going down to the wire and with Bath in the ascendency
Ford kicked to the corner relentlessly. Then as the clock ticked
down, a Bath rolling maul drove over the try line but despite several
replays, the TMO was unable to see if anyone had scored. To my eye,
it looked as though Dylan Hartley had stopped the grounding, so no try was awarded. But it was getting even more gripping.
It
was back to the 5 metre line for a Bath scrum and with two resets it
was an anxious waiting game for Northampton supporters. One try and
conversion from Bath would see a draw. The visitors continued to pick
and go but just couldn't barge through the Saints solid defence and
then they lost the ball forward and Tim Wigglesworth called time.
What
a finish!
Relief for Northampton but all credit to Bath. You can't
fault their resilience and resolve.
FT
31-24
It
was an energy-sapping day at the office for both sides in a match
that overall showed a very high standard and intensity. Not the fast
flowing rugby that's pleasing to the eye but a game where both sides
dug deep to fight until the very end.
It's
too early to talk about contenders for the Premiership title but what
I witnessed on Saturday was two sides eager, talented and stimulated.
Bath
came away with a losing bonus point and Mike Ford reflected on this
after the game;
“...I'm
going to take that. Last year we came here and didn't get a point
but we've got to learn...”
The
Man of the Match award went to Saints skipper, Dylan Hartley, for
leading from the front and courageously pulling his team through to
victory.
After
the game he told me;
“I'm
really proud for what, for us as a squad has been a big week...off the
field with Luis stuff going on in the background, I'm just really
proud of everyone's efforts today.”
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| Team huddle Photography by RedHatPhoto.com |